Department for Transport

Railway Network: Temperature

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the options available to ensure the resilience of the National Rail Network at temperatures in excess of 40 degrees centigrade.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for Transport has plans in place and underway to adapt to and mitigate the risks of our changing climate. The Williams-Shapps Rail Plan includes a priority for long-term investment in climate resilience supported by smarter forecasting, planning and technology.On Wednesday 20 July, Network Rail announced the launch of a new taskforce led by independent experts to investigate and make recommendations on how the railway can develop its approach to resilience during hot weather following this week’s unprecedented heatwave.The review will consider four key areas, each led by an independent expert in their field. Three of these areas will be focused on gathering insights from other countries and making comparisons with international rail networks that are more used to dealing with extreme heat and fluctuations in temperature.As part of the review, the taskforce will:- investigate options to ensure the railway infrastructure can continue to function safely and reliably during very hot weather; and- explore operational standards, policies and practices which could allow services to continue to operate safely and without highly limiting speed restrictions in extreme heat.Network Rail (NR) and the wider rail industry are working to improve our resilience to climate change impacts and other disruptive events. They are developing a risk-based approach to resilience planning, enabling a focus on those risks and assets that are key to delivering safety and performance improvements for passengers and freight users in a cost-effective manner.Many infrastructure operators, including Network Rail, consider the changing climate in their strategic planning and report on their preparedness under the Adaptation Reporting Power.

Driving under Influence: Cannabis

Lord Farmer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to publicise the illegality of driving under the influence of cannabis; and what evidence is available of the effectiveness of this messaging.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: THINK! is the government’s flagship road safety campaign, playing a vital role in tackling the attitudes and behaviours that lead to road casualties. A £1M drug drive campaign ran in February 2015 to support the introduction of new legislation and raise awareness of the new laws amongst drivers. The campaign ran again in 2016, with a £1.3M investment, including a reminder to drivers on the presence of roadside testing. Some additional social media communications, focused on festival goers, ran in the summer of 2017. - The 2016 campaign achieved good levels of recognition (73% awareness), driven by the “Paranoia” film, and overall recognition was higher than in 2015- The “Paranoia” film communicated a general anti-drug drive message, while the online and print elements complemented this by showing the roadside swab which acted as a deterrent and improved credibility- Knowledge of drug driving penalties increased over the campaign period, and these practical aspects were deemed more concerning than the emotional repercussions of being caught and convicted of drug driving- As drug driving is perceived as a niche behaviour (with less of the audience knowing someone who drug drives when compared with other road safety behaviours), the campaign continued to lack relevance among some young male drivers There are a number of issues and behaviours that warrant communications investment and spend is prioritised according to the following key principles:- The scale of the issue- Ability of communications to influence behaviour- Public priorities- Value for money- Policy priorities and changes in supporting legislation- Wider trends, for example the impact of the pandemic  THINK! communications for the next three -year period are currently being planned and will include a review on the status of drug driving within that planning and prioritisation process.

Railways: Standards

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to assess the effectiveness of train operators in providing accurate and timely information for passengers during the disruption to services on 18, 19 and 20 July.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Evidence for the provision of accurate and timely information, including during the period 18, 19 and 20 July, will contribute to the determination of a performance-based fee for eligible rail operators. The evidence in this area and across other metrics of performance is independently evaluated before a performance score and fee is determined.

Bus Services: Concessions

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the (1) funding allocation, and (2) distribution, of free bus passes for Ukrainian refugees residing in the UK.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government is working hard to ensure that Ukrainians escaping conflict are received in a professional and compassionate manner. Since mid-March, all Ukrainians entering the UK with the appropriate visa can travel on public transport, from their port of entry to their end destination, at no cost where travel occurs within 48 hours of arrival. This offer includes many bus and coach operators.

Ports: Energy Supply

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to enable the deployment of technologically mature but presently economically unviable decarbonisation technologies, such as shore power.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The government is supporting the decarbonisation of the UK Maritime sector through a two-pronged approach: R&D funding and investment; and a comprehensive policy and regulatory programme.Building on the success of the first Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, in March 2022 the government announced a £206m R&D fund to be managed by the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). UK SHORE will work in partnership with industry to tackle supply and demand barriers and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. The UK SHORE programme is being scoped and is considering different kinds of projects. The programme will aim to deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.Earlier this year a 12 -week call for evidence on the uptake of shore power in the UK was launched as part of a commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and were published in July 2022. The next step is to use the evidence to develop policy proposals and consult on them later this year.

Ports: Energy Supply

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving toenable the deployment of technologically mature but presently economically unviable decarbonisation technologies, such as shore power.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The government is supporting the decarbonisation of the UK Maritime sector through a two-pronged approach: R&D funding and investment; and a comprehensive policy and regulatory programme.Building on the success of the first Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, in March 2022 the government announced a £206m R&D fund to be managed by the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). UK SHORE will work in partnership with industry to tackle supply and demand barriers and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. The UK SHORE programme is being scoped and is considering different kinds of projects. The programme will aim to deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.Earlier this year a 12 -week call for evidence on the uptake of shore power in the UK was launched as part of a commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and were published in July 2022. The next step is to use the evidence to develop policy proposals and consult on them later this year.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made inestablishing clean maritime clusters.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned a study into maritime clusters. The work was delivered by E4Tech and UMAS and identified a wide range of UK locations where innovation strengths could combine with local demand for clean solutions, providing a foundation for maritime clusters. Based on this work, clusters are being considered as one option as part of wider initiatives such as Centre for Smart Shipping, which forms a part of the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK Shore).UK SHORE is a £206m Research and Development investment programme, which will work in partnership with industry to tackle the technological barriers to maritime decarbonization and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. It will deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.

Shipping: Private Sector

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) support, and (2) incentives, they are providing for private-sector investment in (a) low-carbon maritime fuels, (b) engine technologies, and (c) energy storage facilities.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The UK has set a net zero by 2050 target across the economy. The 2019 Clean Maritime Plan and the 2021 Transport Decarbonisation outline the Department for Transport’s pathway to net zero in the UK maritime sector. The department is taking a two-pronged approach to maritime decarbonisation: a comprehensive policy and regulatory programme; and R&D funding and investment. In January 2022, we extended the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), making renewable fuels of non-biological origin for marine use, such as hydrogen and ammonia, eligible for incentives under the RTFO.Between March 2021 and March 2022, we ran the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), which allocated over £23m of research and development funding to 55 projects across the UK. The competition included projects focusing on low-carbon fuels, engine technologies and storage facilities.In March 2022, we announced a further £206m research and development funding for a newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), which will deliver a suite of interventions aimed at addressing different barriers to maritime decarbonisation over a range of technology-readiness levels. This will help unlock an industry-led transition to clean maritime.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made onimplementation of the Clydebank Declaration since the agreement at COP26; and what support they are providing to businesses to develop green shipping corridors.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors was launched at COP26 to help drive the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and 24 countries have now signed the Declaration.Establishing green shipping corridors is a multi-year endeavour, and we are now moving, with other States and the industry, to explore and then deliver corridors involving the UK. As a first step, we recently invited funding proposals for detailed feasibility studies on UK green corridors under the second round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition which was launched in May. The winners of the competition will be announced in due course.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the2021 Marine Accident Investigation Branch Annual Report, published on 9 June; in particular, the finding that 10 commercial fishermen lost their lives in 2021, the highest figure in a decade; and what steps they are taking in response to improve maritime safety and reduce fatalities.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Annual Report reflects that fishing remains the most dangerous industry in the UK. Owners and Skippers are ultimately responsible for the safety of their vessels and crew.Following the MAIB recommendations to improve maritime safety and reduce fatalities, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) introduced the Small Fishing Vessel Code of Practice in September 2021, which sets minimum standards for vessel construction, machinery, water freeing, freeboard, and stability. Vessels are now inspected both in and out of the water and the MCA have introduced inspections to take place at random, outside of the routine inspection cycle.In addition, Seafish and the MCA have developed the Home and Dry website and have run three safety campaigns covering: risk assessment; man overboard and vessel stability. Since 2008, the MCA has provided £3 million to enable Seafish to obtain match funding to provide free safety training. The MCA have also supported the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Seafish in the delivery of Man Overboard Awareness events. The MCA are also developing new training and certification requirements which will extend certification for skippers of vessels from 16.5m to 7m.

Shipping: Innovation and Research

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of theresearch and innovation budget they have allocated to support the maritime sector in (1) this, and (2) the next, financial year.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The proportion of DfT’s R&D budget allocated to the maritime sector is 15.4% in 22-23, and 22.4% in 23-24.

Electric Scooters

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made of lawenforcement against illegal use of private e-scooters on public (1) roads, and (2) pavements, before extending the trial for local authority-authorised rental e-scooter schemes until May 2024.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what engagement they have had with police forces across (1) England, and (2) Wales, to establish a uniform approach to enforcement of illegal e-scooter use; and what engagement they plan to havefollowing their decision to extend the trial period.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the current public understanding regarding the law on e-scooters.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed to tackle illegal riding of e-scooters is an operational matter for chief officers according to local policing plans. In February we issued updated guidance to all local authorities and operators taking part in the trials, and local authorities in trial areas continue to engage with local police forces. Following the trial extension, the Government will continue to support the police by ensuring they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation including those relating to e-scooters.The Department has in place a national monitoring and evaluation programme for the e-scooter trials. As part of the evaluation, evidence was gathered on public perceptions of e-scooters, including residents’ views of current e-scooter laws. The findings report from the evaluation is due to be published later this year.Alongside the findings from the evaluation, we are drawing from wider evidence to further support the trials and help us to consider options for new regulations for e-scooters. For example, insights on public understanding of e-scooter laws has been collected through the Department’s Transport and Technology tracker, with findings published in December 2021. Existing trials will continue to run to 30 November 2022. Local Authorities can then choose to withdraw from the trials or continue with an extension to 31 May 2024. Our e-scooter trials ​regulations apply in Great Britain, though some aspects of traffic signs and regulations are devolved and would require the devolved Governments to also amend their legislation. To date, Wales have decided not to hold trials.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the publication of the 2021 Marine Accident Investigation Branch Annual Report on 9 June, what steps they are taking to reduce the numbers of unsafe pilot ladders.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is engaging with UK pilot safety stakeholders, under the UK Safety of Navigation Committee (UKSON), to look to reduce the numbers of unsafe pilot ladders. This includes discussions on pilot transfer safety.Pilot ladder reports are logged and local Marine Surveyors must investigate and take appropriate action. They are required to look at pilot ladders during their surveys on board UK flagged vessels and during Port State Control inspections on foreign vessels, in accordance with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding.The MCA is also liaising with, among others, the International Maritime Organization, UK maritime industry, International Association of Classification Societies and International Standards Organization to foster international collaboration and influence suitable changes and amendments to relevant conventions, regulations and standards on pilot ladder safety.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing clean maritime clusters.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned a study into maritime clusters. The work was delivered by E4Tech and UMAS in 2020 and identified a wide range of UK locations where innovation strengths could combine with local demand for clean solutions, providing a foundation for maritime clusters. Based on this work, clusters are being considered as one option as part of wider initiatives such as Centre for Smart Shipping, which forms a part of the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE).UK SHORE is a £206m Research and Development investment programme, which will work in partnership with industry to tackle the technological barriers to maritime decarbonization and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. It will deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.

Airports: Air Traffic Control

Lord Soley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whethereither the (1) Civil Aviation Authority, or (2) individual airport air traffic control systems, have responsibility for recording details of flight delays and cancellations.

Lord Soley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how disputes between airlines and air traffic control systems over the reasons for delays and cancellations are recorded.

Lord Soley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how a (1) passenger, or (2) other member of the public, can identify whether (a) an airline, or (b) air traffic control, are responsible for the delay or cancellation of a flight.

Lord Soley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how a passengerwhose flight has been delayed or cancelled can ascertain whether that cancellation or delay has been caused by air traffic control problems.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Under the Civil Aviation Act 2012, airports report to the CAA punctuality of flights. This data is collated and published on the CAA’s website on a monthly basis. In addition, airlines, airports and air traffic providers also input delays and the reason for delays into the EUROCONTROL system, as part of a well-established and accepted industry process. Passengers’ rights are primary and when passengers are delayed or face cancellations, they deserve explanations and refunds. Passengers have the ability to claim for delayed and cancelled flights through UK261. Through this process they are able to request an Air Traffic Control (ATC) statement, that will outline any ATC delays their flight experienced. Moreover, if passengers feel they have not received adequate details from their airline, they are able to raise this with either the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaint’s Team (PACT) or with the Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme approved by the CAA. On 17 July, the Secretary of State announced the new Aviation Passenger Charter which helps passengers understand their rights and responsibilities, including when there is disruption. We continue to be clear that any delays and cancellations should be avoided by the aviation sector but when these happen, and passengers are affected they should be in a position to rightly claim refunds or compensation.

Electric Scooters

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in the number of privately owned e-scooters in the UK in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, and (3) 2022.

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what studies they have commissioned on the safety of private e-scooters, outside of trials.

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to release the data from the e-scooter trials in England.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Alongside the national evaluation of the e-scooter trials, we are continuing to gather wider evidence on the safety of private e-scooters, including through DfT official statistics (such as STAT19), social behavioural research, as well as by following research conducted by external bodies. The findings report from the evaluation, and underlying datasets, are due to be published later this year.Based on findings from the Department’s Transport and Technology Tracker, we estimate that as of June 2021 roughly 750,000 individuals aged 16+ owned a private e-scooter in England – we do not have data for the whole of the UK, or data for 2022 currently.

Department of Health and Social Care

Heart Diseases: Primary Health Care

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those most at risk of heart failure have immediate access to primary care services for the (1) diagnosis, and (2) monitoring, of their condition.

Lord Kamall: Multi-disciplinary teams within Primary Care Networks provide greater access to echocardiography to investigate the symptoms of patients with breathlessness and accelerate the early detection of heart failure and heart valve disease.We have committed to creating an additional 50 million appointments a year in general practice by increasing and diversifying the primary care workforce. This will improve access for patients, including those at risk from heart failure and ensure staff can provide a range of care options for patients outside of hospital.

Cystic Fibrosis: Mental Health Services and Social Workers

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of (1) paediatric, and (2) adult, cystic fibrosis centres in England had a (a) social worker, and (b) clinical psychologist, vacancy for more than six months for each year since 2015.

Lord Kamall: The information requested is not held centrally.

Depressive Illnesses: Diagnosis

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many diagnoses the NHS has made of (1) anxiety, and (2) depression, in each of the past five years; and whether this information can be broken down by the type of accommodation of the patient.

Lord Kamall: The information is not held in the format requested, as the relevant datasets do not include data on diagnoses.

Department for Education

Schools: Admissions

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, how many children havemoved schoolsin each year for the past five years in England; and how many school moves were due to families being forced to move due to no fault evictions.

Baroness Barran: Every year, the department collects and publishes data on the total number of applications and offers made for entry into primary and secondary school. The information is summarised in the table below and can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/secondary-and-primary-school-applications-and-offers.Number of applications received for primary and secondary schools in England between 2018/19 and 2022/23 2018/192019/202022/212021/222022/23 Primary608,180608,957612,146580,771576,147 Secondary582,761604,496600,352605,206614,059  Parents may also request for their child to move schools at any other point, for example, due to a house move. These are called ‘in year’ admissions. The department does not hold data on the total number of children admitted to school in-year each year. The department does not hold data on the number of school moves as a result of no fault evictions.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Hong Kong: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the observations on Hong Kong made by the United Nations Human Rights Committee during the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and what plans they have to ensure that the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the situation in Hong Kong are delivered.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have followed closely the United Nations Human Rights Committee review of Hong Kong's implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the evidence submitted by Non Governmental Organisations regarding the use of the National Security Law to erode Hong Kong's rights and freedoms. We note the concerns expressed about the National Security Law and the restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, association and participation in political affairs. We look forward to seeing the recommendations from the Committee and will review accordingly.The UK has been clear that the imposition of the National Security Law and the overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system have undermined the civil and political rights promised to Hong Kongers under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. We continue to work with our allies and partners as part of a global network of liberty to hold China to its international obligations.

Hong Kong: Demonstrations

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Hong Kong regarding the jailing of (1) Alexandra Wong, and (2) Koo Sze-yiu, for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019; and what assessment they have made of the (a) rule of law, and (b) freedom of speech, in that territory.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is deeply concerned about the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and the authorities' decision to target pro-democracy figures for prosecution. The right to peaceful protest is one of the rights China promised to protect, as guaranteed in both the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. However, the Chinese Government has failed to uphold freedom of speech and assembly, including through Chinese and Hong Kong authorities' continuing use of the National Security Law to target dissenting voices.The UK is clear that freedom of speech, an independent judiciary and the rule of law are protected in the Joint Declaration and should be upheld. We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities and call on China to uphold the promises it willingly agreed to.

China: Organs

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent evidence, presented by the Hudson Institute at the International Religious Freedom Summit 2022, concerning ongoing organ harvesting in China and the facilitation of the practice by medical institutions in the West.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We continue to closely monitor and review evidence relating to reports of forced organ harvesting in China and maintain a dialogue with leading NGOs and international partners on the issue.We regularly raise our concerns about the human rights situation in China directly with the Chinese authorities at the highest levels. Most recently, the Prime Minister did so in a telephone call with President Xi on 25 March.

South Sudan: Environment Protection

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking through (1) international diplomacy, (2) Official Development Assistance, or (3) other means, to protect the Sudd swamp in South Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government continuously monitors political, economic and environmental developments in South Sudan, including the possibility of dredging in the Sudd wetlands. UK Government officials have raised the Sudd wetlands with the Government of South Sudan where appropriate, most recently at a meeting between the UK's Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan and the South Sudanese Ambassador to the UK on 22 June.More broadly, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is a UK Government international priority, as identified in our Integrated Review and International Development Strategy. We are committed to using our leadership to support the protection of natural wealth in South Sudan, including through funding projects for wildlife conservation, poverty reduction and building community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

South Africa: Contraceptives

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to support women’s access to contraceptive services in South Africa.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Women's empowerment and gender equity are top priorities for the UK Government in South Africa, including through work on skills and youth employment, and tackling gender based violence. While the UK does not currently provide support to women's access to contraceptive services in South Africa, the UK has supported 9.5 million women and girls to use modern methods of contraception since 2018 through the Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme, across 17 African countries.

South Sudan: Armed Conflict

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 2022 Elie Wiesel Act report to Congress by the US State Department on the situation in Abyei, an area contested between Sudan and South Sudan, published on 15 July.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We note the Elie Wiesel Act report to Congress by the US State Department and share the concerns highlighted regarding intercommunal violence in Abyei. The UK has taken a leading role in supporting the wider processes for justice and accountability in Sudan and South Sudan, and will continue to call for accountability for crimes committed in Abyei. We urge the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to regularise meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee and agree joint security mechanisms to improve stability in Abyei until its final status can be agreed. Most recently, the UK Special Representative to Sudan and South Sudan discussed Abyei with Sudanese authorities on 28 June in Khartoum, and will discuss this issue with the South Sudanese authorities in Juba later this month.The UK Government is heavily engaged with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and we welcomed their mandate renewal from the UN Security Council on 12 May. We join the UN Secretary-General's call for the African Union to intensify its mediation efforts to help reach a political solution for Abyei. We will continue to work with the UN and the humanitarian community in Sudan and South Sudan to address humanitarian needs in Abyei and call on the governments of both countries to allow humanitarian actors to deliver aid without hindrance.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Debts

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of government debt deductions on Universal Credit recipients’ ability to afford essential items; and what steps they are taking to prevent debt deductions contributing to destitution as the cost of living increases.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department has not made an assessment. However, DWP takes every care to recover benefit debt without causing undue financial hardship. To that end we have lowered the standard cap on deductions from Universal Credit twice over recent years, firstly from 40% to 30% in October 2019 and then to 25% in April 2021. We also ensure that any deductions are taken in priority order, which effectively means that higher priority deductions, such as utilities payments, are taken first, with debt only taking up the balance of the overall cap. Where a person feels they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery, and the debt has not arisen as a result of fraud, they are encouraged to contact us. When they do, we work with them, reviewing their financial circumstances and in most instances, agreeing a temporary reduction in their rate of repayment. We have recently extended the time period for any reduced repayment of this type to remain in place. In exceptional circumstances, the Department does have discretion to waive recovery of debt. Guidance on this can be found in full at Chapter 8 of the Benefit overpayment recovery guide, on the GOV.UK website, which was updated in 2022 to ensure that all appropriate factors are taken into account when a case is being considered for waiver. In recognition of the financial pressures people are currently facing the Government is providing over £15bn in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. Thispackage is in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, with Government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year.

Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that families who receive no fault overpayments of benefits are not faced with additional costs when repaying the overpayments; and whether those steps include updating guidance to benefits staff, including around the discretion in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and Her Majesty’s Treasury guidelines Managing Public Money, to make a presumption of non-recovery of such overpayments during the current period of rising cost of living.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The latest published statistics show that in 2021/22, Universal Credit Official Error overpayments were at their lowest recorded level of 0.7%, having fallen for the 3rd year in a row. Where overpayments do occur, Section 105 of The Welfare Reform Act 2012 states that any overpayment of Universal Credit, new style JSA or ESA in excess of entitlement, is recoverable.The Department therefore seeks to recover benefit overpayments accordingly, but remains committed to doing so without causing undue financial hardship. We have lowered the standard cap on deductions from Universal Credit twice over recent years, firstly from 40% to 30% in October 2019 and then to 25% in April 2021. We also ensure that any deductions are taken in priority order, which effectively means that higher priority deductions, such as utilities payments, are taken first, with debt only taking up the balance of the overall cap. Where a person feels they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery, and the debt has not arisen as a result of fraud, they are encouraged to contact us. The Department can work with them, reviewing their financial circumstances and in most instances, agreeing a temporary reduction in their rate of repayment. We have recently extended the time period for any reduced repayment of this type to remain in place. Whilst the Department does have discretion to waive recovery of debt, guidance is clear that this is only intended to happen in exceptional circumstances. This guidance, which can be found at Chapter 8 of the Benefit overpayment recovery guide on the GOV.UK website, was updated in 2022 to ensure that all appropriate factors are taken into account when a case is being considered for waiver. We are looking to strengthen Operational guidance to ensure agents are aware of when a case is appropriate for waiver consideration.

Housing Benefit: Cost of Living Payments

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of thenumberof private renters who receive housing benefit and (1) qualify for the £650 support grant, and (2) do not qualify for the £650 support grant.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: No assessment has been made. However, the vast majority of people receiving Housing Benefit will be in receipt of another qualifying benefit for the Cost-of-Living Payment. To support people who need additional help, the Government is providing an extra £500 million of local support. In England this will be via the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from this October to March 2023 backed by £421m. The Household Support Fund helps those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills. The government will issue additional guidance to Local Authorities to ensure support is targeted towards those most in need of support including those not eligible for the Cost-of-Living Payments set out on 26 May 2022. Guidance for local authorities on how to distribute the fund will be released soon.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Avian Influenza

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the current outbreak of avian flu on wild bird populations.

Lord Benyon: Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of avian influenza on wild birds. This includes providing advice on mitigation measures that can be put in place to both protect public health and the impact on wild birds where possible. However, avian influenza is a natural transmission process in wild birds and there is limited evidence that mitigation measures are effective at reducing transmission of avian influenza between wild birds. We will, however, continue to take whatever action we can, in accordance with international best practice and the latest evidence.  The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operates a robust programme of wild bird surveillance across Great Britain and engages in year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols. Between 25 October 2021 and 22 July 2022, over 3,000 wild birds have been tested. Of these, 1454 have tested positive for H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). There have been findings in 347 different locations in 61 different species in 79 different counties. A report (updated weekly) of findings of HPAI in wild birds is published by the UK Health Security Agency on GOV.UK together with outbreak and risk assessments. A copy of the 18 July outbreak assessment is attached to this answer Unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza are being seen in both Great Britain and Europe as well as North America. In Great Britain there have been large numbers of deaths associated with positive findings of avian influenza in breeding populations of seabird species. Including those listed as GB Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC5) (copy attached). The impact on Roseate Terns (red-listed BoCC5 species) and Sandwich Terns (amber-listed BoCC5 species) colonies in particular are of significant concern. The UK’s seabirds are an important part of our natural heritage, and their protection is a high priority for the government. Defra recognises the significant threat HPAI is posing to our seabird populations Further to the existing Joint Nature Conservation Committee Seabird Monitoring Programme, Natural England has set up a seabird reporting system to collate records of mortality levels in key seabird colonies which will be used to support assessments of the impact on populations and inform recovery programmes. Equivalent systems have been established in Wales and Scotland enabling data to be readily compared across the administrations.HPAI outbreak assessment 18 July 2022 (pdf, 1368.0KB)Birds of Conservation Concern Dec 2021 (pdf, 1536.1KB)

African Swine Fever: Import Controls

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many timesAfrican swine fever has been identified in imported products in each of the last three years.

Lord Benyon: ASF virus can be present in the meat and bone marrow of contaminated products from infected animals. We have regionalisation in place for ASF for some countries, and there are rules in place for products from an ASF disease restriction zone or an ASF endemic country to be exported. Therefore, a non-processed product from an ASF disease restriction zone or an ASF endemic country is usually considered to be a non-compliant import and should be destroyed. Defra does not routinely test for ASF virus in imported commodities.

Soil

The Earl of Caithness: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 24 March (HL6855), in which he said that stakeholder engagement on the outline of Soil Health Action Plan for England (SHAPE) would start in the spring, and that stakeholder engagement not yet having commenced, when they will announce the timeline for that engagement.

Lord Benyon: The Government recognises the importance of stakeholder engagement for the development of a strategic and coherent plan for soil health measures. Further details regarding planned engagement with stakeholders on the importance of soil and the actions needed to ensure it remains a healthy and sustainable resource, will be published soon.

Avian Influenza: Disease Control

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase monitoring of wild bird populations in light of the influx of H5N1 avian flu infections; and what steps they are taking to protect (1) vulnerable, and (2) threatened, populations.

Lord Benyon: Defra is working with Devolved Administrations, Arm’s Length Bodies and NGOs to monitor and respond to the effect of avian influenza on wild birds. This includes providing advice on mitigation measures that can be put in place to both protect public health and the impact on wild birds where possible. However, avian influenza is a natural transmission process in wild birds and there is limited evidence that mitigation measures are effective at reducing transmission of avian influenza between wild birds. In addition to the existing avian influenza biosecurity stakeholder meetings that have been running since 2020 and have included ornithological NGO participation, Defra will convene a stakeholder working group to consider additional actions that can be taken to support the recovery of wild bird populations that have been significantly impacted by the disease. Defra is also engaging with OSPAR Heads of Delegation to share best practice, mitigation measures and lessons learnt from current and previous outbreaks. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) operates a robust programme of wild bird surveillance across Great Britain and engages in year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols. Between 25 October 2021 and 8 July 2022, over 3,000 wild birds have been tested. Of these, 1422 have tested positive for H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). There have been findings in 343 different locations in 61 different species in 78 different counties. A report (updated weekly) of findings of HPAI in wild birds is published on GOV.UK together with outbreak and risk assessments. A copy of the 18 July assessment is attached to this answer. Last month a new consortium was launched, led by Defra and APHA, to fund research to look into how avian influenza viruses are emerging in wild populations and help us understand the risk posed to both domestic and wild birds. Additionally, Defra has commissioned Natural England to assess the vulnerability of seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing, including avian influenza, and propose actions to address them.HPAI outbreak assessment 18 July 2022 (pdf, 1368.0KB)

Water Supply: Weather

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the current level of water supply given the heatwave in parts of the UK; and what plans they have to deal with any shortage of supply.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Water companies are reporting that water storage levels are adequate for supply this summer. Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of wholesome water at all times. They are legally required to have robust plans in place to maintain the supply of water in a range of hazards, including heatwaves. Water companies use a range of measures to manage higher water demand expected during heatwaves and respond to any disruption. These measures include ensuring their networks are prepared, customer communications to help manage demand, rerouting of water via their networks, and the provision of alternative water supplies, for example via tanker deliveries. In the event of disruptions, water companies also maintain priority access registers, which vulnerable customers can register with for provision of bottled water. The Government is communicating frequently with water companies to monitor their performance and reiterate the importance of maintaining supplies to customers.

Home Office

Asylum: RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of far-right extremist activity in relation to proposed asylum accommodation at Linton-on-Ouse; what steps they are taking to address the issue; what support they are providing to people affected by any such activity; and what additional policing costs are anticipated in light of such activity.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The safety and security of the local community, asylum seekers, staff and visitors to potential future sites is of paramount importance. We are committed to engagement with local authorities and local partners to understand and mitigate risks and concerns of the wider community. This includes working closely with the police in matters relating to the operation of the site, safety and security and the handling of any protests. The Home Office will work closely with the Counter Extremism Unit as well as the Community Tensions Team to discuss and inform any developments at Linton-on-Ouse. These partnerships will ensure the site, if the decision is made to progress, is fit for purpose and operates safely and securely, whilst minimising impacts on local services.

Visas

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their review of Tier 1 (Investor) visas granted between June 2008 and April 2015.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The review of visas issued under the Tier 1 (Investor) route between 2008 and 2015 is being finalised and we aim to publish it in the near future.

Immigration

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expectto complete the Home Office review of the ‘compliant environment’.

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to respond to the Wendy William's reportWindrush Lessons Learned Review: progress update, published on 31 March; andwhat mechanismsthey plan to put in place to monitor future progress in implementing the findings of the Lessons Learned Review.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In response to Recommendation 2 of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, Wendy Williams returned to the Department in September 2021 to review our progress in implementing the recommendations of that Review and the commitments we made in the Comprehensive Improvement Plan. Her Progress Update was published in March this year.Wendy concludes that there is no doubt the Department has risen to the challenge she set for us, and she acknowledges there are several areas where very good progress has been made. Wendy also rightly holds us to account where we have not made sufficient progress and we know there is more to do.The progress update does not include new recommendations and we will continue to drive forward progress on Wendy’s original 30 recommendations. We have laid the foundations for radical change in the department and a total transformation of culture. We are committed to long-lasting meaningful improvement of how the Home Office delivers.Turning to the review of the compliant environment – recommendation 7 of the Review - evaluation of these measures individually and cumulatively will be an ongoing process. The compliant environment is made up of a complex set of measures. The approach to evaluation is staged, delivering a range of outputs at different times as is standard practice in establishing an evaluation. I can offer an assurance that we will not wait to make changes where they are needed and policies will be kept under review.

Immigration

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of thecost of the benefits and entitlements provided to successful immigration applicants; and how this is factored into setting fees for immigration and nationality services.

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the cost of the financial benefits that are available from a successful UK citizenship application.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: HL1646Immigration and nationality fees are kept under review to ensure they are within the parameters agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament, as set out in Section 68 (9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which details the factors the Home Secretary may take into account when setting fees. These include the costs of processing an application, the benefits likely to accrue to any person in connection with the application, and the costs of exercising wider immigration and nationality functions. HL1650The 2018 Immigration and Nationality Fees Regulations setting the current fee to register as a British Citizen, were accompanied by an impact assessment which can be accessed via the following link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2018/59/pdfs/ukia_20180059_en.pdf.An amendment to these Regulations was laid on 26 May 2022 which provides a power to waive fees for child registration applications on the basis of affordability and a fee exception for children who are looked after by a Local Authority. These regulations were accompanied by an impact assessment which can be accessed via the following link: The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)These analyses considered benefits such as revenue for the Exchequer and the benefits to applicants from attaining citizenship, the latter of which cannot be monetised. Those were balanced against implementation and processing costs to the Home Office, familiarisation costs for law and immigration advice firms, time costs for applicants, and public service provision costs.Impact Assessment (a) (pdf, 330.6KB)Child Citizenship (b) (pdf, 511.0KB)

Refugees: Nigeria

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplansthey have to deport refugees who arrive in the UK to Nigeria.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We recently signed a migration agreement with Nigeria which will see both countries work together to tackle shared migration issues, including doing more together to support legal migration, tackle illegal migration and speed up the deportation of foreign criminals.This agreement is different from our Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda which allows for asylum seekers, not refugees, whose claims are inadmissible to be relocated to Rwanda.

Migrants: Detainees

Lord Rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people who are (1) survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and (2) otherwise recognised as vulnerable under the Adults at Risk policy, were brought to an immigration detention centre in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, and (c) 2021.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The requested information cannot be accurately extracted from our internal systems. To provide this information would require a manual trawl of case records and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.The Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention (AAR) policy strengthens the presumption against the detention of those who are particularly vulnerable to harm in detention. Under the AAR policy, vulnerable individuals will be detained only when the evidence of vulnerability in their particular case is outweighed by the immigration considerations, including expected date of removal, compliance with immigration law, and public protection. Where a decision is taken to maintain the detention of a vulnerable person, safeguards are in place including regular reviews to ensure detention remains lawful, appropriate and proportionate.All Home Office staff working in the detention system are given training and support to identify and act upon indicators of vulnerability.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under the proposed changes to possession in theRenters’ Reform Bill, renters can be evicted every eight months with the new grounds due to no fault of their own.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The Government is committed to delivering a fairer and more effective rental market that works for both tenants and landlords. We will deliver the manifesto commitment to end Section 21 evictions; this will mean that a landlord will only be able to evict their tenants in specific circumstances defined in law and they must be prepared to provide evidence of this in court. Under our proposals, landlords will be able to get possession of their properties when they need to, these reforms will include mandatory grounds for if a landlord wishes to sell or move into the property with two months’ notice periods. To protect tenants’ security, landlords will not be able to use these grounds in the first six months of a tenancy. Our reforms strike the right balance between improving security for tenants and ensuring landlords continue to feel confident in the market.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what kind of proof a landlord will be obliged to provide to prove that they intend to sell or move themselves or families back into a property, under plans to be set out in the Renters Reform Bill.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: Where landlords want to use the new moving or selling grounds to seek possession, they will need to be prepared to prove their intention in a court. We will share further guidance on what evidence could be used to demonstrate their intent in due course, and will consider how to ensure this is as simple as possible while protecting tenants from unlawful eviction.We encourage landlords to communicate with tenants about their intentions early, and share evidence where possible, to avoid unnecessary disputes about the legitimacy of eviction notices arising. Tenants may wish to request further information from their landlord or seek independent advice.We are clear that attempts to misuse these grounds are unacceptable, and we will restrict landlords from remarketing or reletting the property within three months of using these grounds.

Rented Housing: Standards

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the upcoming Renter's Reform Bill will include a cost cap for bringing homes up to the Decent Homes Standard, like there is with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: We are continuing to develop the policy on introducing a decent homes standard in the private rented sector and will consider the potential for cost caps as part of our consultation and engagement with stakeholders.

House of Lords: Location

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the letter from the Secretary of State forLevelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Lord Speaker, dated 13 May, represents Government policy.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The Government is clear that it is up to the House of Lords to decide where they wish to be located, including during any potential decant of Parliament. The previous Secretary of State said in his letter that he would welcome the House of Lords playing a role in the levelling up agenda and he suggested a number of illustrative options.The freehold of the QEII Conference Centre is held by the Secretary of State. The Restoration and Renewal programme is currently being reshaped. Tangentially, the department is taking steps to deliver clarity for the commercial users of the Centre, and good outcomes for the British taxpayer.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made (1) to inform their plans for two-month eviction periods to be set out in the upcoming Renters Reform Bill, and (2) of whether this is sufficient notice for a family with children in school to find a new home in their local area.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The Government is committed to delivering a fairer and more effective rental market that works for both tenants and landlords. As set out in our 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector' White Paper, the Government has committed to ending Section 21 no fault evictions. At the same time, we will reform the grounds for evictions to ensure that landlords are able to get possession of their properties when they need to, these reforms will include mandatory grounds for if a landlord wishes to sell or move into the property with two months’ notice periods. To protect tenants' security, landlords will not be able to use these grounds in the first six months of a tenancy and to prevent misuse they will not be able to relet the property in the 3 months following the end of the tenancy.The notice period we are proposing balances the needs of both tenants and landlords, giving tenants and their families time to find a new home while ensuring landlords can manage their assets when they need to do so. However, we encourage landlords to work flexibly with their tenants and notify them of their intentions as far in advance as possible. We encourage tenants who receive notice to consider their options as soon as possible and to contact their local authority if they are at risk of homelessness.

Rented Housing

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future demand for homes to rent.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The English Housing Survey provides information on housing stock. The proportion of Private Rented Sector (PRS) households has remained relatively stable for nearly a decade. The PRS was 19% of stock in 2013-14, increased to 20% in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and then went back to 19% thereafter.We continue to monitor the Office for National Statistics rental price statistics as an indicator of demand and will evaluate the impact of the private rented reforms on the sector.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they measure the success of Free Trade Agreements.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has committed to publishing a biennial free trade agreement (FTA) monitoring report, starting in 2023, covering key monitoring indicators. DIT has also committed to publishing comprehensive ex-post evaluation reports for the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK-Australia FTA and UK-New Zealand FTA within 5 years of these agreements entering into force. These reports will use a mixed methods analytical approach aiming to show how, why, and for whom the agreements and their implementation have generated outcomes.

Trade Promotion

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they measure the success of the Prime Minister's Trade Envoys.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys showcase the UK’s world class expertise and promote the UK as the destination of choice for inward investment.Trade Envoys add value to the efforts of HMG in their respective markets, through the soft power influence they bring in developing relationships with key influencers and feedback has been very positive. Trade Envoys are one part of the Department for International Trade’s support for British businesses seeking to export and win contracts overseas and we do not separate out the impact of Trade Envoys from our broader measures as part of the Outcome Delivery Plan.

Morocco: Trade Promotion

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect toappoint a replacement Trade Envoy to Morocco.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department for International Trade is constantly reviewing suitable markets to identify where the appointment of a Trade Envoy can be of greatest benefit to the trade and investment aims of the UK. The former Trade Envoy to Morocco resigned on the 5th July and a recommendation will be made to the next Prime Minister in due course.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Destination Management Organisations Independent Review

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond toThe de Bois Review: an independent review of Destination Management Organisations in England, published on 14 September 2021.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The response was published on 20 July 2022, the very day My Noble Friend tabled this question.